Squid Game Creator Unveils New Netflix Thriller—Cast and Plot Details Inside

If you thought Hwang Dong-hyuk (the mind behind Squid Game) was going to take it easy after making one of the most wildly successful shows ever, guess again. He’s back at Netflix—this time trading kids’ games and dystopian debt for high-stakes poker faces and the seedy underworld of gambling. Welcome to his next series: The Dealer.

Who’s At The Table?

For this new Korean drama, Hwang isn’t directing, but he’s heading up the project as producer with his company Firstman Studio. Directing duties actually go to Choi Young-hwan. Choi’s name might ring a bell if you’re a fan of Korean movies—he’s been the cinematographer behind some absolute bangers like Veteran and The Thieves, but this is his first time calling the shots as a director. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but that background does promise a show with some serious visual flair.

• Jung So-min plays Geonhwa, the main character—a casino dealer who’s spent years deliberately steering clear of all the typical vices of her profession.
• Ryoo Seung-bum is Hwang Chisu, a gambler scraping by until Geonhwa’s scheme gives him a shot at higher stakes.
• Lee Soo-hyuk pops up as Jo Jun, a casino player who gives off mysterious, unreadable vibes. Translation: expect him to play it cool, probably betray someone, or both.
• Ryu Kyung-soo rounds things out as Choi Wooseung, a detective and (awkwardly) Geonhwa’s fiancé.

Script duties fell to Ohnooy and Lee Tae-young, so you know Hwang’s got a whole team on this—even if he’s not writing every line himself.

The Plot: Wedding Plans, Housing Scams, and Gambling Underworlds

So what’s The Dealer actually about? At first it sounds almost wholesome: Geonhwa is a top-tier casino dealer who just wants to get married. But then a housing scam blows up her life (dreams of homeownership + wedding + criminal mischief, welcome to adulthood) and suddenly, she’s forced back into the grimy world of the casino.

This is where things get dicey. She isn’t just dealing cards—she’s pulling every trick out of her sleeve, doing everything she can to survive, reclaim her future, and (against all odds) still make it to the altar. Every move is dangerous and could cost her more than just money.

'Her journey pulls her into a dangerous underworld where every move could cost her freedom, love, or even her life.'

Honestly, if you’re burned out on bland crime dramas, this one at least promises an actual high-wire act, both emotionally and literally.

Expect Some Flash—and Genuine Tension

With Choi Young-hwan’s eye for style, you can bet on The Dealer leaning hard into the flash and tension of casino life: think neon lights, sharp suits, people barely holding themselves together, and the constant feeling that something terrible could happen with a single missed cue.

To sum it up: Hwang Dong-hyuk is producing, but it’s very much an ensemble effort with a shiny new director and a solid cast. Netflix confirmed that production is underway—so unless something derails, this is headed straight for your streaming queue (and only on Netflix, of course).

I’ll say it: if Squid Game caught you off guard, this could blindside you in a whole different way. Keep your eyes peeled.